The primaries on Tuesday in Florida have set the stage for a historic contest: Ashley Moody, the Republican senator, and Angie Nixon, the Democratic state representative, will compete in November for the seat left vacant by Marco Rubio after he resigned from his position to take on the role of Secretary of State in the Trump administration.
Moody, designated by Governor DeSantis in 2025 as Rubio's interim replacement, won her Party's primary by a significant margin over her rivals, receiving over 79% of the votes.
"We defend common sense, a commitment to safe communities, a commitment to a responsible and responsive government, a commitment to ensuring that the government of the people prioritizes the interests of the people, and an appreciation and affirmation of the ideals of this country," he expressed in his victory speech.
At 51 years old, Moody holds a master’s degree in Accounting and a doctorate in Jurisprudence from the University of Florida. She served as the Attorney General of Florida from 2019 to 2025.
Backed by President Donald Trump and with over 14 million dollars raised for the campaign, she will fight in November to keep the position she currently holds on a temporary basis.
Surprise in the Democratic ranks
If the Republican primary yielded no surprises, the results on the Democratic side were completely unexpected: Angie Nixon defeated retired Lieutenant Colonel Alex Vindman, former director for European Affairs at the National Security Council and a key witness in the first impeachment trial against Trump in 2019.
The former official raised over 16 million dollars and had the support of the national Democratic apparatus, while Nixon only raised about 975,000 dollars. However, he garnered nearly 56% of the votes, a lead that his own party did not anticipate.
Nixon, originally from Jacksonville and a graduate of the University of Florida, has been a member of the state House of Representatives since 2020.
After confirming his victory, he stated that "voters in Florida were fed up" and "made it clear that they want someone who will fight for a change that truly improves their lives, such as reducing costs, increasing wages, universal healthcare, and a government that prioritizes families."
Vindman, for his part, congratulated her and stated that "I will support her in the fight against Ashley Moody."
Both women will face off on November 3 to determine who will complete the remaining two years—until January 2029—of the Secretary of State's term.
If the Democrat wins, she would become the first African American senator in Florida's history and the first member of the Democratic Socialists of America elected to the United States Senate.
Position on Cuba
The topic of Cuba will be significant in the election, as Florida is home to more than 1.6 million Cuban Americans, primarily concentrated in Miami-Dade and Broward.
Moody maintains a tough stance against the regime in Havana: she co-sponsored the DEMOCRACY Act in November 2025, aimed at blocking assets and denying entry to Cuban officials, and has accused previous administrations of having "consented to the Cuban communist regime.
Nixon, on the other hand, called the embargo a "failure" and noted that Cubans "are starving," advocating for a resumption of the rapprochement policy of the Obama administration to facilitate connections between Cuban families.
However, he has made it clear his rejection of authoritarianism: "The regime does need to change," he stated, and called for power to be handed over to the Cuban people.
Days before the primaries, Nixon walked down Calle Ocho in Little Havana seeking the Cuban-American vote, a sign that the Cuban-origin community will be a crucial battleground leading up to November 3rd.
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